Thoughts on the military and military activities of a diverse nature. Free-ranging and eclectic.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Kalashnikov.

This is coolbert:

"All power flows out of the barrel of a gun" - - Chairman Mao.

The Chicago Sun-Times newspaper carries today an interview with Mikhail Kalashnikov. The inventor of the AK-47 [Avtomat Kalashnikov].

" Kalashnikov sorry his rifle is terrorists' No. 1"

Mikhail Kalashnikov says he designed the assault rifle that bears his name to fend off the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

But six decades later, he laments its transformation in the world wide weapon of choice for terrorists and gangsters.

[recall the previous blog entry with the images and graphics of the jihadi terrorists. Recall the many times the AK was pictured!!]

"'When ever I look at TV and I see the weapon I invented to defend my motherland in the hands of these bin Ladens, I ask myself the same question: How did it get into their hands??' The 86 year old Russian gunmaker said. . . . the world's estimate 100 million Kalashnikovs account for up to 80 percent of all assault rifles. It sells for as little as $15."

[I had originally read the price on the international arms market was around $60. That is probably for a quality model. That 100 million was manufactured over a period of sixty years. For those that care about such things, 15 million M-16' have been made in a period of forty years!!]

"but was standard issue in the Soviet army and was exported to arm Third World allies and insurgents."

"It's seen in Osama bin Laden's videotapes and on the flags of Mozambique and the Hezbollah fighters of Lebanon."

"We sold the weapons to some countries for a symbolic price or even for nothing, with the aim of assisting national liberation struggles."

I have commented many times about the way that the AK has changed wars around the world. Folks not far removed the bow and arrow stage of development, can now, if they can provide the cash [and almost always they can somehow], supply their "troops" with an up-to-date weapon that provides devastating firepower.

The biggest objection I would have is how the AK is used around the world. By these various African militias and the Arab fighters. To oppress their own folks and create mayhem on a grand scale. These guys don't even bother to aim their AK when firing. They just put a full thirty round magazine in the rifle, point in the general direction of the "enemy" and spray the entire thirty rounds toward the "target", again, NOT even aiming. They must and probably do cause a LOT of unnecessary casualties. And seem to have an abundance of ammo that wastage is not even a consideration??!!

Kalashnikov is an apparently robust man at 86 years of age. An honored figure in his homeland. Ended up with the rank of Lieutenant General [not bad for a man who was a member of a tank crew and a mere sergeant]. Also was a member of the Supreme Soviet at one time.

Kalashnikov himself never profited in the slightest way from his invention. "NOT EVEN ONE LOUSY RED KOPECK!!" Well, it was all for socialist good!